Category: Dallas Mavericks Blog

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Rick Carlisle steps down as head coach of Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that Rick Carlisle has stepped down as head coach.

“Rick informed me today about his decision to step down as head coach,” said Mark Cuban. “On top of being a tremendous basketball coach, he was also a friend and a confidant. Rick helped us bring the O’Brien Trophy to Dallas and those are memories I will always cherish. I want to thank Rick for all he gave this franchise and this city. We wish him all the best.”

Carlisle, the winningest coach in franchise history, was hired on May 9, 2008 and recently completed his 13th season with Dallas. He posted a record of 555-478 (.537) with the club and led the Mavericks to the postseason nine times in his 13 seasons at the helm, including the franchise’s first World Championship in 2011.

Carlisle, who won a title as a player with Boston in 1986, is one of only 14 individuals to win an NBA championship as both a player and a head coach. He moved into 15th place on the NBA’s all-time wins list in 2020-21, passing Cotton Fitzsimmons (832) with career win No. 833 vs. Cleveland on May 7, 2021.

Donnie Nelson out as GM of Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks and general manager Donnie Nelson have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced today.

Nelson, who owns 36 years of NBA experience, came to Dallas on Jan. 2, 1998 and recently completed his 24th season with the franchise.

“I just want to thank Donnie for his 24 years of service to this organization,” said Mark Cuban. “Donnie has been instrumental to our success and helped bring a championship to Dallas. His hard work, creativity and vision made him a pioneer. Donnie will always be a part of the Mavs family and I wish him all the best.”

During his tenure, the Mavericks have made the playoffs in 17 of the last 21 seasons, been to the Western Conference Finals three times, advanced to the NBA Finals twice, captured three division titles (2007, 2010, 2021) and won their first World Championship in 2011. Since Nelson joined the franchise the Mavericks have won 58.0% (1,087 of 1,873) of their games with three 60+ win seasons, including a franchise-record 67-win season in 2007, which tied for the sixth-best record in NBA history.

Mavericks star Luka Doncic dealing with nerve problem in neck

Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is dealing with a nerve problem in his neck, and it’s a huge issue for the squad. Via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

American Airlines Center has seen quite a turn. The unbridled joy and sheer hilarity of the first quarter of Friday night’s game has been replaced by a quiet and somber crowd following Sunday night’s Game 4 loss. The Mavs went from from being up 2-0 to being tied 2-2, and it’s not wrong to wonder when — and how — they might win another game in this series.

Sunday’s 106-81 loss provided the exclamation point but it was simply a continuation of a merciless onslaught that began in a 118-108 setback on Friday night when the Clippers rallied from an early 30-11 deficit to run away from Mavs.

The Mavs simply have no answers for Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George as the series heads back to Los Angeles for the critical Game 5 on Wednesday…

And with the Mavs’ all-star guard Luka Donic now playing in obvious pain with an injured neck, albeit valiantly, the Mavs don’t stand a chance.

Doncic led the Mavs with 19 points on Sunday but it was on 9-of-24 shooting. He also missed all five of his free throws.

The series is taking a few days off, with Game 5 not until Wednesday.

Pelicans missing four starters tonight against the Mavericks

The Pelicans will barely be the Pelicans tonight. Via the Times-Picayune:

The New Orleans Pelicans will be without four of their usual starters in a must-win situation against the Dallas Mavericks.

Starting guard Lonzo Ball will miss Wednesday’s game with a right thumb strain, the team announced. Ball, Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain), Zion Williamson (finger fracture) and Steven Adams (right MTP sprain) will all be sidelined while New Orleans fights to keep its play-in tournament hopes alive.

The Pelicans are 31-38, tying them with the Kings for the 11th best record in the Western conference.

Yes, Kristaps Porzingis says he misses NYC

Generally, every NBA player, when asked, usually says yes, he misses some aspect of a former team he used to play for. Sometimes the team itself. Other times the arena. And of course, usually the city, and the fans. On that front, here’s Mavericks forward-center Kristaps Porzingis, via the New York Post:

Kristaps Porzingis’ return to the Garden on Friday won’t be as viciously loud as it was in 2019 with only 10-percent capacity allowed during this pandemic season.

But the 2,000 fans permitted inside when the Mavericks visit the Knicks should be vocal. And judging by last season and social media, the 7-3 Latvian is still viewed a villain and undoubtedly will receive more jeers than cheers.

Ironically, Porzingis, traded from the Knicks 26 months ago, says he’s greeted differently on the streets of Manhattan when he visits, though he gave up his Midtown apartment.

Porzingis says he, in some ways, misses being a Knick.

“I do,” Porzingis said. “I miss the city. I miss this place. A lot of great memories. Every time I come back, it’s special. A lot of people here still recognize me and show me love and support. It’s always good to come back.”

The Mavs are 25-21 this season, which is the 7th best record in the Western conference.

Porzingis is averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 30.5 minutes per game.

Pelicans trade JJ Redick to Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have acquired guard JJ Redick and forward/center Nicolò Melli in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for forward James Johnson, forward Wes Iwundu, the club’s 2021 second round pick and cash considerations.

Redick (6-3, 194) is a 15-season veteran with career averages of 12.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 25.7 minutes in 927 games (488 starts) with New Orleans, Philadelphia, L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee and Orlando. This season, Redick averages 8.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 18.6 minutes in 31 games off the bench.

A career 41.5% 3-point shooter, Redick ranked second in the NBA in 3-point percentage last season (.453, 180-397 3FG) and ranks 15th all-time in 3-pointers made (1,935). He is also a career 44.7% field goal and 89.2% free throw shooter.

Redick, 36, enjoyed his best statistical season in 2018-19 with Philadelphia when he averaged 18.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 31.3 minutes in 76 games (63 starts).

He reached the NBA playoffs in each of the first 13 seasons, averaging 10.9 points in 110 postseason games (70 starts) with Philadelphia, L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee and Orlando.

Melli (6-9, 236) holds averages of 5.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 15.6 minutes in 82 games (eight starts) over two NBA seasons with the Pelicans after being signed as a free agent in 2019.

A native of Reggio Emilia, Italy, Melli played nine seasons in Europe before starting his NBA career. He appeared in 207 EuroLeague games, averaging 7.4 points (.466% FG, .387% 3FG), 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists with Olimpia Milano (Italy), Brose Bamberg (Germany) and Fenerbahçe İstanbul (Turkey). Melli scored a game-high 28 points in Fenerbahçe’s 80-85 loss to Luka Dončić’s Real Madrid in the 2018 EuroLeague Finals.

He also represented the Italian National Team in two EuroBasket tournaments (2013, 2015).

Redick will wear No. 17 and Melli will wear No. 44.

Johnson, 6-7, 240, has appeared in 29 games this season with the Mavericks, averaging 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Selected 16th overall out of Wake Forest in the 2009 NBA Draft, Johnson has appeared in 663 career regular season games with Chicago, Toronto, Sacramento, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota and Dallas, posting averages of 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks in 20.5 minutes per contest.

Iwundu, 6-6, 195, has appeared in 23 games for Dallas this season, averaging 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds. Selected 33rd overall out of Kansas State by Orlando in the 2017 NBA Draft, Iwundu has appeared in 205 career regular season games with the Magic and Mavericks, averaging 4.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

Johnson will wear #16 and Iwundu will wear #4 for New Orleans.

Shawn Bradley paralyzed after being hit by car while riding bicycle

STATEMENT FROM FORMER NBA PLAYER SHAWN BRADLEY

Shawn Bradley released the first public details today of the accident that he suffered on January 20, 2021. Bradley, the 7’6” former NBA player with the Dallas Mavericks, was struck from behind by an automobile while riding his bicycle a mere block from his home in St. George, Utah. The accident caused a traumatic spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. After undergoing neck fusion surgery, Bradley has spent the last eight weeks hospitalized and undergoing rehabilitation.

Bradley, a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spent two years performing missionary work in Australia after his freshman year at Brigham Young University. Following his mission, Bradley was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as the number two pick in the 1993 NBA Draft, but he spent the majority of his career with the Dallas Mavericks. His very strong sense of faith is being tested as he participates in grueling physical therapy and learns how to cope with the challenges of paraplegia. Doctors have advised him that his road to recovery will be both long and arduous, perhaps an even more difficult physical challenge than playing professional basketball.

With his wife Carrie at his side around the clock, and supported by an amazing team of rehabilitation specialists and family, Bradley is in good spirits. He plans to use his accident as a platform to bring greater public awareness to the importance of bicycle safety.

Bradley asked to convey his deep appreciation for the outpouring of well wishes and prayers he has received from family, friends and fans. Their support has energized his recovery and bolstered his confidence that he will manage the long process ahead successfully. He does not plan to issue further public updates, preferring to devote his full concentration on his rehabilitation.

A glance at the Mavericks as second half of season begins

The Mavs haven’t stood out thus far this season, but there’s certainly reason for optimism for the rest of 2021. Via the Fort Worth Star Telegram:

Remember that in January that the Mavericks were hit hard by COVID-19, with a number of players, including Jalen Brunson, Maxi Kleber, Josh Richardson, Dwight Powell and Dorian-Finney Smith, missing time. All-Star guard Luka Doncic continued to perform at a high level and Tim Hardaway Jr. was a consistent scorer, but the Mavs went 3-8 over the last 18 days of the month.

Once everyone returned Dallas rebounded, and as of right now the team is looking to keep going strong after winning nine of their last 11 games before the break. This was largely thanks to Doncic, who is averaging 31.7 points on 51.9 percent shooting with 7.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game in his last 10 games.

Going into Wednesday night’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, the Mavs are running high on a three-game winning streak and are 18-16 on the season…

As of right now, the Mavericks are nestled into that No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and are looking to move up during the second half. With Doncic, this is a reasonable expectation since he tends to exceed any and all expectations when it comes to his on-the-court performance.

Mavericks recall Nate Hinton from G League

The Dallas Mavericks have recalled rookie two-way guard Nate Hinton from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League.

Hinton (6-5, 210) appeared in two G League games for the Long Island Nets before being flex-transferred to Santa Cruz on Feb. 13. He averaged 10.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 23.0 minutes in 10 regular season games (two starts) for the Warriors while helping the club advance to semifinals of the G League playoffs.

The 2020-21 NBA G League season began on Wednesday, Feb. 10, with 18 teams competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, opted not to travel to the NBA G League’s campus. NBA teams without an NBA G League affiliate participating in Orlando have the opportunity to assign roster players and transfer two-way players using the league’s flexible assignment and two-way rules.

Mavericks recall rookies Josh Green and Tyler Bey from G League

The Dallas Mavericks have recalled rookies Josh Green and Tyler Bey from the G League’s Salt Lake City Stars.

Green (6-6, 210) was flex-assigned to Salt Lake City on Feb. 17 and appeared in six games (three starts) for the club, averaging 13.5 points (.455 FG%), 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals in 29.7 minutes per game. He recorded 22 points (10-19 FG), six boards, a game-high eight assists and a team-high four steals while posting a game-high plus-23 rating in the team’s 109-93 win over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on March 2.

Bey (6-7, 216), who saw action in one G League game for the Long Island Nets before being flex-transferred to the Stars on Feb. 11, averaged 16.2 points (.497 FG%), 9.7 rebounds and 28.6 minutes in 12 games (nine starts) with Salt Lake City. He recorded five double-doubles and three 20-point efforts with the Stars, capping his G League stint with a 23-point night against the Delaware Blue Coats on March 5.

The 2020-21 NBA G League season began on Wednesday, Feb. 10, with 18 teams competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, opted not to travel to the NBA G League’s campus. NBA teams without an NBA G League affiliate participating in Orlando have the opportunity to assign roster players and transfer two-way players using the league’s flexible assignment and two-way rules.